Monastery turned wellness retreat where they'll babysit your smartphone

A 17th-century monastery that has morphed into a modern wellness centre. This 65-room mixture of old cloisters and modern glass within Quebec's Old Walled City opened last August.

The centre is geared towards travellers looking to sidestep the modern world - you won't find televisions or phones in your room and you're encouraged to unplug your electronic devices; the front desk even offers a babysitting service for smartphones. History is another lure. As the only New World city north of Mexico to still have intact fortification walls, the neighbourhood of Old Quebec is a Unesco world heritage site.

The Augustinian order of nuns' mission was to care for people, body and soul. They first arrived in Quebec from Europe in 1639 and built 12 hospitals and monasteries throughout the province. At its peak, 225 sisters lived in the Quebec City monastery, but the order has declined steadily since the 1960s and now just nine sisters live on the premises - leaving plenty of space for visitors.

No. The sisters are practical; they realised that a Catholic retreat would have limited appeal in the modern world, so opted instead for a secular wellness centre. That said, religious art decorates the hallways. Non-Catholics who appreciate religious heritage will probably like what they see; "recovering Catholics" might be put off.

The choice is between "authentic" and "contemporary". Authentic rooms are smaller, with a bathroom down the hall, and are furnished with antique desks, wardrobes and nightstands. If you're taller than five foot seven, you'll need to duck to get through the original doors. Contemporary rooms come with private baths. Even in the authentic rooms, guests can expect a comfortable bed and illuminated make-up mirror - rather than a bed of nails and a hair shirt.